WO1994011692A1

WO1994011692A1 - Turbo heat extractor

Info

Publication number: WO1994011692A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000587
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igor Moisseeff
Original assignee: ELMSBRIDGE NOMINEES PTY Ltd
Current assignee: ELMSBRIDGE NOMINEES PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-17
Filing date: 1993-11-17
Publication date: 1994-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1995-05-17

Abstract

A heat exchanger for an automotive engine. The heat exchanger is circular with a radial housing having a deflector plate (9) to divide the housing into a radial outward flow path and a radial inward flow path, fins (20) on said housing, an impeller (8) to direct water through said flow path. The impeller is mounted on a shaft (7) and a cooling fan (21) is also mounted on the shaft to direct cooling air over the fins. Optionally, magnets (25) may be mounted on the fan blades with electrical windings (26) on the fins so that electrical power is generated.

Description

TURBO HEAT EXTRACTOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a heat extractor or heat exchanger, more particularly to a heat extractor or heat exchanger which can be used as a radiator in an automotive vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A heat exchanger such as a radiator is virtually essential in water cooled internal combustion engines, and conventionally these comprise an upper header tank joined to a lower header tank by a series of hollow tubes, cooling fins being attached to these vertical tubes to form the core of the radiator. Hot water from the engine passes into the top header tank and as it passes through the tubes to the lower header tank, the water is cooled and it returns to the engine via the lower header tank. Air is caused to flow through the cooling fins, and this air flow can be created by the forward movement of the vehicle, and is often assisted by a fan, either direct driven by the engine or as required by an electric motor. Such radiators are thus large, and if positioned in the front of the vehicle, can increase the frontal area of the vehicle, and consequently the aerodynamic design of the vehicle has to take into account the positioning of the radiator. It has been known to mount the radiator on the side of the engine compartment, but this then usually requires a constantly operating fan to create the required cooling air flow. Additionally radiators are know as cross flow radiators, in which the two header tanks are placed on each side of the radiator core so that the water flows horizontally across from one header tank to the other header tank.

Patent AU613003 illustrates a cylindrical heat exchanger having a pair of concentric headers positioned at one end of the radiator, and a plurality of cooling tubes and fins extending longitudinally of the radiator and joining the two concentric headers. A fan is positioned at one end of the radiator to cause an air flow over the cooling fins.

While the above described radiator does produce a more compact unit, it doe require in its construction a large number of individual parts and consequent assembly time. It is an object of this invention to provide a heat exchanger or radiator having great heat exchange capacity is also of compact size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger or radiator for an automobile which can be positioned as desired in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger which is of minimum number of component parts and is easy to construct.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger which also incorporates a water pump for circulating the cooling water through the engine and the heat exchanger.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger which can also have incorporated therein electrical generating means such as an alternator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome one or more of the above objects of the invention there i provided a heat exchanger or heat extractor, said heat exchanger having a circular body forming a hollow radially extending member as a heat exchange member, a deflector plate within said hollow member to form two radially extending chambers interconnected at the periphery of the deflector plate, on chamber forming an inlet chamber and the other an outlet chamber, and means for circulating liquid to be cooled through said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber.

In a preferred form of the invention the hollow member has cooling fins on on of its radial faces, the heat exchanger including a fan to direct an air flow over the cooling fins.

In a further preferred form of the invention the fan blades and cooling fins carr respective co-operating magnets and electrical windings to produce electrica power during operation of the heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows one example of the invention in cross section, Figures 1 (a) and 1 (b) showing two forms of cooling fins, and Figure 2 shows an end view of the invention partially cut away with alternate sectioned views illustrating differing embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The heat exchanger 1 has a hollow disc-like member 2 formed by a heat exchange wall 3 spaced from a mounting plate 4. The heat exchange wall 3 extends radially inwardly and is connected to a cylindrical axially extending shaft body 5 which houses bearings 6 supporting a shaft 7 which has an impeller 8 mounted thereon. The impeller is positioned on one side adjacent the heat exchange wall 3, and on the other side is adjacent a deflector plate 9 which extends radially outwards through the hollow member 2 to divided the interior into two chambers, an inlet chamber 10 and an outlet chamber 11 , the deflector plate terminating radially inwardly of the end of the hollow member 2 so that the two chambers are interconnected by circumferential passage 12.

The deflector plate 9 at the centre of the plate is provided with an axially extending opening to form an inlet 13 into the eye of the impeller, so that on rotation of the impeller liquid will enter the inlet and be impelled into the inlet chamber 10 to pass into the outlet chamber 11. The mounting plate 4 is formed with an outlet 14 and also with a portion 15 to surround the axially extending opening on the deflector plate to thus support this deflector plate.

The heat exchange wall 3 and the mounting plate 4 are preferably formed of pressed metal and can be readily assembled and sealed at the peripheral edge. In this embodiment the mounting plate is formed with a rolled curved edge 16 and the heat exchange wall 2 formed with a depressed portion 17. A sealing strip 18 is provided between the mounting plate and the heat exchange wall which are maintained in assembled and sealed position by a O-ring 19 which is pressed into the curved rolled edge 16.

Cooling fins 20 are attached to the heat exchange wall 2 and to create a flow of cooling air over the fins a fan having fan blades 21 on a cylindrical shaft 22 surrounding shaft body 5 and mounted on shaft 7. Pulley 23 is attached to shaft 7 and also to cylindrical shaft 22 so that the impeller and the fan are both driven by the pulley 23.

The cooling fins 20 may be solid as shown in the upper portion of Figure 1 and as further illustrated in figure 1 (b). Alternately in order to have more efficient cooling the fins may be hollow as shown in the lower portion of Figure 1 and as further illustrated in Figure 1(a). In this embodiment the hollow fin opens into the inlet chamber 10 so that the water flows through the hollow fin which thus provides a greater cooling surface area.

The heat exchange wall 3, deflector plate 9 and the mounting plate 4 can be kept in appropriate spaced relationship by indentures or dimples 24 on the deflector plate to engage either or both of the heat exchange wall and the mounting plate. These indentures or dimples 24 are spaced around the deflector plate and thus do not restrict the flow of water through the inlet and outlet chambers to any degree.

Figure 2 shows various alternate forms of the invention in end view and partia sectional views. The fins 20 of Figure 1 can be radial fins 20(a) or curved 20(b) as shown in Figure 2. As noted above these may be either solid or hollow. The fan blades may be straight 21(a) or be inclined as in a squirrel cage fan 21(b).

The invention can also incorporate means to produce electrical power and a shown some or all of the fan blades 21 can have incorporated in their tips magnets 25, and the radially inner portion of some or all of the fins 20 can have electrical windings 26 to form the armature of an alternator or electrical generator. If desired the positions of the magnets and the windings could be reversed so that the magnets are on the fins while the windings are on the fan blades.

In order to assist in the mounting of the unit mounting screws 27 are provided on the mounting plate 4 whereby the unit can be mounted on any suitable mounting or bracket in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a radiator for a motor vehicle, it is to be realised that the invention is not limited thereto. For example the invention can also be used as an oil cooler, such as for cooling transmission oil, lubricating and cooling oil for jet engines, water circulation and heat transfer in domestic solar heating and the like.

It is seen that there is provided according to the invention a small and compac heat exchanger, whether for cooling the liquid or for the purpose of heating the air flow. If it is desired to utilise the heat added to the air flow, suitable shrouds and ducts and the like can be added to direct the heated air to a poin of use. It will be realised of course that cooling fins can be added to the mounting plate to increase the heat transfer capacity of the unit.

The invention provides a small unit which is not limited to being positioned at the front of the vehicle and hence it has no bearing on the aerodynamic stylin of the front of the vehicle. While the unit is small, it has a large heat transfer surface. The one unit thus provides the water pump for circulating the water through the engine and heat exchange unit, it provides the fan for the airflow over the heat transfer fins, and also the electrical power for the vehicle.

Although various forms of the invention have been described in some detail, the invention is not to be limited thereto, but can include variations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger or heat extractor, said heat exchanger having a circular body forming a hollow radially extending member as a heat exchange member, a deflector plate within said hollow member to form two radially extending chambers interconnected at the periphery of the deflector plate, on chamber forming an inlet chamber and the other an outlet chamber, and means for circulating liquid to be cooled through said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber.

2. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 characterised in that said hollow radially extending member is comprised of a radial heat exchange wall and a radial mounting plate spaced axially from each other with said deflector plate there between, said heat exchange wall and said mounting plate being joined at their periphery.

3. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 2 herein said deflector plate is formed with a central opening forming an inlet, an impeller mounted on a shaf at said inlet to pass liquid from said inlet to the inlet chamber, an outlet in said mounting plate whereby liquid flows from said outlet chamber to said outlet.

4. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 3 characterised by cooling fins mounted on said heat exchange wall, and a fan having fan blades radially inwardly of said cooling fins to direct an air flow over said cooling fins, said fan being mounted on said shaft.

5. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 4 characterised in that said fin are hollow.

6. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 4 characterised by magnets and co-operating electrical windings mounted on said fan blades and said cooling fins whereby electrical power is produced on operation of the heat exchanger.